Behold II Smartphone with Android
Entered CNET Catalog: 12/10/2003
SKU: RX-V1400
Manufacturer: Yamaha Corp. of America
Manufacturer description
The RX-V1400 is a top-grade receiver that will provide all the power and control necessary for any high quality home theater system. It introduces the new YPAO (Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer), which automatically adjusts the output from each speaker for the best possible sound at your listening position. Other major features include 7-channel discrete amplification (110W x 7), Yamaha's Digital ToP-ART design concept, Quad-Field CINEMA DSP, 31 surround programs including 2 THX programs, full movie sound format compatibility such as Dolby Pro Logic IIx, SILENT CINEMA, Night Listening Mode, and component video up conversion for optimum video quality. Features for convenient operation include extensive menus, front panel Video Aux optical input terminal, Zone 2 and Zone 3 outputs for custom installation, 9-channel speaker output terminals and Speaker A/B and A+B selection.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 01/27/2004
As befits a higher-end receiver, the V1400 has a remote that's a cut above average. Its illuminated display keeps tabs on which input is selected, and you get direct access to Dolby and DTS surround processing and various DSP modes, such as THX, Rock, and Jazz. If you want to get back to pure stereo or Dolby, you just hit the Straight button. The big attraction here is the automatic setup program: the Yamaha Parametric Acoustic Room Optimizer (YPAO), which the world first saw in the company's RX-Z9 flagship model, listed at $4,500. After you've hooked up your speakers and the supplied microphone, you're ready to start the YPAO routine. The V1400 sends a series of bleeps, squeaks, and tones through the speakers to check their wiring, their distances from the listening position, their sizes, and the subwoofer's crossover point. After the test, the receiver adjusts the levels of all the speakers and the sub. That's pretty impressive, but there's even more: the V1400 extensively analyzes the sound and applies equalization to each speaker. The proprietary YPAO technology handily trumps the automatic setup schemes of Pioneer and Harman Kardon.
We purposely tried to trip up the YPAO by connecting the front-left speaker out of phase, hooking up positive to negative and vice versa. The V1400 immediately detected the error and canceled the setup. "Warning," the onscreen display cautioned us, flashing the word beside a directive to switch around the wires.
The autoequalization works well but isn't a cure-all. It enhanced our Dynaudio Contour speakers but made our NHTs sound worse.
Of course, you don't have to use the YPAO. But if you want to manually input all your settings, be forewarned: Navigating the various menus wasn't nearly as intuitive as we would have liked.
Power hounds will enjoy the V1400's potent amplifier, which delivers 110 watts on seven channels. It has what it takes to drive even low-impedance (4 ohm) speakers at high volumes; many competing designs balk when the rating drops to 6 ohms. All the latest surround formats are included: Dolby Digital EX and Pro Logic II, along with DTS's ES Discrete 6.1, Neo:6, and 96/24. Additionally, the V1400 boasts THX Select certification and proprietary processing.
This is the first receiver we've seen with lip-synch delay--helpful with plasmas and other video displays that sometimes fall behind audio signals. The V1400 can accommodate a lag of up to 0.25 second.
Connectivity is unusually generous. When taking in composite or S-Video output from any video source, the V1400 can upconvert the signal to component video, so you can run just one set of cables to your HDTV. You also get switching for two component sources. For digital audio, the back panel offers seven inputs (four optical, three coaxial) and two optical outputs. Among the plentiful analog A/V hookups is an eight-channel in for multichannel audio sources, such as DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD players. The 7.1 preamplifier outs provide an upgrade path for those adding a separate power amp. Rounding out the connection options are multiroom operation and A/B speaker selection; the V1400 can handle a total of 11 speakers. We started our auditions in stereo. Listening to our CDs, we were taken aback by the V1400's tuneful, rocking bass; effortless midrange detail; and refined high frequencies--definitely a cut above everyday receiver sound.
Next, we switched to DVDs. We were having such a great time with Matrix Reloaded that we really had to concentrate to remember to take notes for this review. As we watched cars crash and burn during the extended "road rage" chase scene, we nudged the volume higher and higher. We couldn't get enough of those tumbling SUVs, the roar of engines, and the shriek of twisting metal. This sequence is sure to become a favorite home-theater demo.
After Reloaded, we watched Tears of the Sun, which couldn't be a more different movie. Based in reality, this portrayal of man's inhumanity to man has far greater emotional power. The V1400's exquisitely nuanced sound sucked us into the story, and the scenes in the African jungle were so real that we could feel the humidity.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 User Rating: 
5/10
user manual is a mess
Pros: lots of connection options
Cons: impenetrable user manual
User Rating: 
6/10
Great once working, manual is a shocker
Pros: It sounds great, looks great and deliver everything as promised.
Cons: Manual doesn't point out you can't have a powered Zone 2 AND 7.1 Zone 1 running at the same time. It doesn't tell you simply that only analogue audio inputs can go to Zone 2 and 3 (you have to discover this one as well hidden away away from the Zone 2 se
User Rating: 
8/10
I did the research, the rx-v1400 was perfect
Pros: Power, quality, future upgrade ability. Component upconversion and auto configuration/setup is really nice. Won't need to buy another receiver for many years. Good looking.
Cons: No DVI input, UBS input or Firewire hookup--but wouldn't expect it at this price. Remote isn't intuitive and difficult for babysitter/in-laws to figure out. Manual stinks, as it is not inuitive with feature explanations, and makes no effort at defining
User Rating: 8/10
Gave up on faulty NADs - Yamaha excellent!
Pros: Sounds great (as it should) Ease of set up Accuracy of self calibration (YPAO)
Cons: a little complicated (perhaps too many features?)...
User Rating: 
7/10
Nice. Very nice...
Pros: This amp has so much power. I have not been able to go past half volume. I have JBLs 100W speakers and they love the power. Sounds great. Killer quality.
Cons: The YPOA calibrated my EQ. And I was always missing something. I manually calibrated with the 7 band EQ and the sound is much better. It can't duplicate what your ears hear.
User Rating: 8/10
Great flat response from an A/V Receiver
Pros: Although I own the next up, the V2400, they are essentially the same. Movies are great. Clear imaging and great sonic presence. DTS processing is better than the Dolby on this unit. This holds true for DTS processed music (if that's your thing) as well.
Cons: Dolby processing on both movies and music are too flat and you lose dialog and vocal clarity on music processed with it. It requires a bit of manual equalization to bring out dialog well. I found I prefered the DTS processing for both movies and music, as
User Rating: 
9/10
Solid,powerful,in short kicks ass.
Pros: Thx select,all the features that these harmon kardon amps.Its a beauty.Value For money,really good bass,a treat for action movie lovers.
Cons: Can be a little tough to use but eventually u get the hang of it.
User Rating: 9/10
A very affordable elite-grade receiver.
Pros: +All the DSPs and decoding options you would need. +Very sexy remote. +YPAO simplifies the setup process. +Extremly tweakable. +Sounds great especially if you have expensive speakers.
Cons: -A bit complicated for some to setup at first. -Changing something in the speaker size/wiring menu overwrites all speaker levels and equilizer settings. -Gets quite hot. -Along with the rest o the standard 5.1 setup, you can only use either 2 presence cha
User Rating: 
10/10
Tried them all this is the one
Pros: Tried a Harmon Kardon - nice sound but not enough power picked this up and never been sorry. The GEQ on all speakers really lets you dial in the sound. Fantastic value.
Cons: Mine is a PLII not a PLIIx and the sale guy at Sound Advice has jerked me around for a while so it looks like I will have to mail it back for the upgrade myself.
User Rating: 10/10
Sound can't be beat at twice the money.
Pros: Went from Yamaha RX-V1000 to Denon AVR-3802, and back to Yamaha RX-V1400. Denon sounded great after Yamaha, but I really missed the DSP modes on the Yammie, and the Denon sounded way bright on multichannel audio. Went back to the Yammie, and it took a f
Cons: Onscreen display works through component outputs only when you are accessing the menus and settings, but the picture disappears while you are doing this. No display of volume on component output.
User Rating: 9/10
The best value for the price
Pros: PL2x Dolby digital digital ex dts dts es dts 96/24. This is a great unit and it is full features. My favorite is the component upscan. This unit will output all of your video (s-video) or (composit) into component out... GREAT FOR A FRONT PROJECTOR!!!
Cons: none i can find
User Rating: 9/10
SOUND QUALITY IS AMAZING
Pros: I had the yamaha 75w/ch before upgrading to this one. There is more than enough power for my JBL speaker syst. I absolutly think that the quality is superb. The mic system works really good and has calibrated to have a great sound. I have done so calibrat
Cons: The remote.
User Rating: 10/10
The Best Receiver I have ever had
Pros: After looking for a long time for what I needed, this one has everything! Enough digital input/outputs, pre-amp outputs, 7channel, etc. The internal ampps sound great but add external amps and the sound gets even better! Remote is very good but not the
Cons: Nothing. Just buy it!
User Rating: 10/10
I STORED MY MX-1000, THIS THING KICKS
Pros: THE TOTAL PACKAGE FOR MY 18X18 ROOM W/CATHEDRAL CEILING.MATCHED WITH POLKS,B&W,AND VELODYNE,THE RANGE IS SUPURB.ONCE YOU HAVE DAILED IN WERE YOU WANT IT, THE REST IS JUST PLEASURE.. GO AND BUY IT ASAP!!!!
Cons: THE REMOTE IS HARD TO SEE IN THE DARK..THATS IT!!!!
User Rating: 9/10
Amazing Value and Performance!
Pros: I looked at every high-current 7.1 reciever in the $500-$2000 price range, and this is by far the best value. I have a polk audio 7.1 speaker system (4-fxi30,2-rti100,1-csi40,1-p sw650), and it brings my 20'x20' media room to life. I have a 106" screen
Cons: Manual lists all of the features of the receiver, but is not extremely clear as to how to implement all of them. The YPAO works okay, but don't settle. It works best to use the YPAO setting as a starting point and tweak from there. Parametric EQ is the
User Rating: 8/10
Power and Features are a steal at this price
Pros: Easy to Hook up, Great sound, great power. All the bells and whistles
Cons: On-screen navigation for calibration took some getting used to. But I got the knack over time
User Rating: 9/10
What an Upgrade!!
Pros: This one's got it all. And it was so easy to set up. I had it up and running within minutes.
Cons: The remote will not recognize my DirecTV box at all. Sometimes it is "too easy" to use (I missed several features at first because I was trying to find them, not letting them just automatically come on).
User Rating: 9/10
An Outstanding Receiver!!!
Pros: Dolby Prologic IIx, THX Select, Component video upconversion, More ins and outs than you can imagine. YPAO, ability to manually tweak every possible setting. More DSP settings than you will ever need. Its price. Fantastic Sound for Movies and Music. Highl
Cons: User Manual could use some work. Wish the remote had additional channel up down buttons seperate from the ones that work in a joystick fashion. These are very minor concerns.
User Rating: 9/10
Absolutely Top Notch! Go get one now!
Pros: Excellect sound for music and movies; DVD-A & SACD sound beautiful; gobs of power; the auto set up really works! (and its a blast to watch); many of the DSP modes are actually useful; many many connection options.
Cons: I wish the actual buttons on the remote were back lit. Only the LCD read out is back lit.
